Wolfgang Rihm: Astralis & Other Choral Works

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The visionary Astralis is at the heart of this collection, but more variety and drama are found in the Fragmenta passionis and Sieben Passions-Texte. Superb performances. — BBC Music Magazine, August 2012, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 5th Mar 2012
Catalogue No: HMC902129
Label: Harmonia Mundi
Length: 67 minutes

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Rihm: Sieben Passions-Texte

Work length28:10

$7.35

$9.10

$11.20

RIAS Kammerchor, Hans-Christoph Rademann

I. Tristis est anima mea

Track length2:37

$1.05

$1.30

$1.60

II. Ecce vidimus eum

Track length4:19

$1.05

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$1.60

III. Velum templi scissum est

Track length3:36

$1.05

$1.30

$1.60

IV. Tenebrae factae sunt

Track length5:33

$1.05

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$1.60

V. Caligaverunt oculi mei

Track length4:29

$1.05

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VI. Recessit pastor noster

Track length2:50

$1.05

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VII. Aestimatus sum

Track length4:46

$1.05

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$1.60

Rihm: Astralis ("Über die Linie" III)

Work length29:29

Album only

This work is only available as an album download.

Album only

This work is only available as an album download.

Album only

This work is only available as an album download.

RIAS Kammerchor, Hans-Christoph Rademann

Rihm: Fragmenta passionis

Work length9:58

$5.25

$6.50

$8.00

RIAS Kammerchor, Hans-Christoph Rademann

I. Da verliessen ihn

Track length1:20

$1.05

$1.30

$1.60

II. Da schrien alle

Track length2:46

$1.05

$1.30

$1.60

III. Vater, vergib ihnen

Track length1:27

$1.05

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$1.60

IV. Jesus schrie nochmals

Track length1:35

$1.05

$1.30

$1.60

V. Wahrhaftig dieser war Gottes Sohn

Track length2:50

$1.05

$1.30

$1.60

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About

When Wolfgang Rihm composed the 'Fragmenta Passionis', in 1968, this 16-year old artist was already a ‘compositional force’ that seemed beyond any doubt in terms of critical consciousness. Two further compositions, the 'Sieben Passions-texte' of 2001-06 and the major half-hour-long work 'Astralis' of 2001, feature on the present recording alongside the early choral work. If one looks for a common compositional language, then these three works are linked above all by their expressive and diverse treatment of the possibilities of the human voice and at the same time by their reflection on traditional forms and genres of musical history. The 'Fragmenta Passionis' are, in fact, motets such as have been written ever since Machaut in the 14th century, by Guillaume Dufay and Johannes Ockeghem in the 15th and perhaps an anachronism by 1968!

Rihm's early work, combining contemporary techniques with the emotional volatility of Mahler and of Schoenberg's early expressionist period, was regarded by many as a revolt against the avant-garde generation of Boulez, Stockhausen (with whom he studied in 1972–73), and others, and led to a large number of commissions in the following years. In the late 1970s and early 1980s his name was associated with the movement called New Simplicity. His work still continues to plough expressionist furrows, though the influence of Luigi Nono, Helmut Lachenmann and Morton Feldman, amongst others, has affected his style significantly.

Reviews

August 2012

The visionary Astralis is at the heart of this collection, but more variety and drama are found in the Fragmenta passionis and Sieben Passions-Texte. Superb performances.

May 2012

The performances of these two Passiontide works are heroic...Everything is triumphantly mastered by this remarkable choir, but a strong word than 'heroic' is needed to describe the performance of [Astralis]...Hypnotic is not the word for the effect this work creates, but listeners who take the conductor's advice will find the music opening like a flower for them too

15th March 2012

The RIAS Kammerchor's forces deftly apply the misty tonalities here

Wolfgang Rihm: Astralis & Other Choral Works

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